Kris Kristofferson - Kristofferson (Exp)

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Music reviews of Kristofferson (Exp)

Music Review: Songwriting legend debuts as a solo performer
Rating: 5 Stars

From day one, Kristofferson's impressive is idiosyncratic and personal, while at the same time, universal and convincingly voiced by others. A song like "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" lends itself equally to Kristofferson's interpretation and the hit single by Johnny Cash. Same for Sammi Smith's rendition of "Help Me Make it Through the Night" (not to mention the dozens of covers that followed), and Ray Price's career-defining interpretation of "For the Good Times." Kristofferson often sounds more weighed down and wearied by the songs - like a country version of folk poet Leonard Cohen. Many of these early songs are mood siblings to Cohen's work in the film "McCabe & Mrs. Miller," for example.

Few debut albums show off such masterful, fully-fashioned songwriting. Except for two co-writes ("Me and Bobby McGee" and "The Lady's Not For Sale") all sixteen tracks are solo works. The four previously unreleased bonus tracks sound to be from the same early era (the session info isn't given). "Come Sundown" was released later by Kristofferson on 1979's "Shake Hands with the Devil" (and eventually covered by the George Jones and Sammy Davis, Jr.). "The Lady's Not For Sale" was the title track of Rita Coolidge's 1972 LP, and "Shadows of Her Mind" was recorded by Ed Bruce in the early 80s. Kristofferson's original versions are all worth hearing, and make this debut just a notch sweeter.

Notes include the original liners from Johnny Cash and producer Fred Foster, and newly penned words from Foster, Billy Swan and Al Bianculli. The original and reissue cover art are both included.

Description of Kristofferson (Exp)

Country CDs

• Music > Styles
• Folk
• Pop